Notch vs Shroozy Stage

Notch is a real-time 3D motion design tool for building graphics and interactive visual workflows. Its node graph connects elements in a project, and four NURA physically based GPU renderers can be switched without changing the scene, lighting or materials. Tools include compositing, cloners, video processing, physics, materials, particles, volumetrics, JavaScript scripting and networking controls. Notch supports camera tracking, LED-stage and greenscreen workflows, and live compositing. It connects to systems including Kinect, tracking SDKs, lidar and Windows Touch, and supports OSC, MIDI, ArtNet, NDI, Spout, streaming protocols, virtual webcam output and a Web/HTTP API. Notch requires Windows 10 or later on 64-bit x86 with a discrete GPU; its After Effects beta supports versions 22 through 26 on Windows. The free NotchLC plugin supports Adobe video applications on Windows and macOS. Pricing includes Indie at $279 a year for non-commercial use with 1080p export, plus a free 60-day trial.

Shroozy Stage turns a Meta Quest headset into a miniature virtual production studio for scene blocking, camera animation, take recording, and AI finishing. Users can place a small set in passthrough, add actors and props, and arrange the scene with tracked controllers. Direction tools include performer posing, timeline keyframes, and camera paths. A desktop companion displays the live programme feed, records takes, discovers the headset automatically, and provides an AI developing room. Recorded takes can be sent through three AI finishing routes via fal for comparison. The Quest app is listed for Meta Quest 2, Quest 3, and Quest Pro and is installed by sideloading its APK; desktop builds are listed for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Prebuilt downloads are free and MIT-licensed, with no account, hosted service, or payment requirement. Optional AI features need a user-supplied fal.ai key, and generated work is billed to the user's fal account. Headset video and control use a direct local-network connection. The maker says scenes and recordings stay on the user's hardware unless sent to an AI feature.